Olympique Lyonnais Féminin

This article is about the women's association football team. For the men's association football club, see Olympique Lyonnais.

Olympique Lyonnais Féminin (French pronunciation: [ɔlɛ̃pik ljɔnɛ]; commonly referred to as Olympique Lyon, Lyon, or simply OL) is a French women's professional football club based in Lyon. The club has been the female section of Olympique Lyonnais since 2004. It is the most successful club in the history of Division 1 Féminine, with fifteen league titles as Olympique Lyonnais and four league titles as FC Lyon before the acquisition.

Olympique Lyonnais Féminin

Full name	Olympique Lyonnais Féminin
Nickname(s)	Les Fenottes Les Lyonnaises
Short name	OL
Founded	1970; 54 years ago (1970) (as FC Lyon) 2004; 20 years ago (2004) (as Olympique Lyonnais)
Ground	Stade Gérard Houllier, Décines-Charpieu
Capacity	1,524
Owner	Michele Kang (52,00%)^[1] OL Groupe (48,00%)
President	Michele Kang
Manager	Sonia Bompastor
League	Division 1 Féminine
2022–23	Division 1 Féminine, 1st of 12 (champions)
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

Since the 2010s, Lyon has frequently been named the strongest women's team in the world,^[2] and has been cited as a model for the development of women's football in both economic and cultural terms.^[3] The team has won eight Champions League titles, including a record five successive titles from 2016 to 2020, as well as 14 consecutive domestic league titles from 2007 to 2020. They have also won five trebles when the top-level continental competition is considered, the most for any team.

History

The club was formed as the women's section of FC Lyon in 1970. In 2004, the women's club became the women's section of Olympique Lyonnais. Since joining Lyon, the women's section has won the Division 1 Féminine fourteen times and the Coupe de France nine times. Lyon reached the semi-finals of the 2007–08 edition of the UEFA Women's Cup and, during the 2009–10 season, reached the final of the inaugural edition of the UEFA Women's Champions League, losing to German club Turbine Potsdam 7–6 on penalties.^[4][5] In the following season, Lyon finally captured the UEFA Women's Champions League, defeating its nemesis Turbine Potsdam 2–0 in the 2011 final. It successfully defended its title in 2012, defeating FFC Frankfurt in the final.

From 2016 to 2020, the club won five consecutive Champions League titles, equaling the male record held by Real Madrid. Three players: Sarah Bouhaddi, Wendie Renard, and Eugénie Le Sommer have all won eight Champions League trophies.

Lyon's main rivalry is with Paris Saint-Germain, with matches between the two teams sometimes referred as the "Classique féminin". Paris is OL's main contender for national titles, as they finished in second place of D1 Féminine seven times. Lyon had never lost the D1 title to PSG until 2021 when PSG finished ahead of Lyon, and won five Coupe de France finals against Paris. In 2017 both teams reached the Champions League final, with Lyon beating Paris after a penalty shoot-out and winning its fourth title in the competition.^[6]

Lyon hosts its matches at the Stade Gérard Houllier, a stadium of capacity 1,524 located in the Groupama OL Training Center and situated not far from the larger Parc Olympique Lyonnais where the male teams play. The women's team does host its "big" matches at the 59,000-seat stadium. The president of the club is Jean-Michel Aulas and the captain of the team is Wendie Renard. According to the UEFA women's coefficient, Lyon was the highest-ranked club in UEFA in 2014.^[7]

Ownership and finances

Main articles: OL Groupe and John Textor

Lyon Féminin is part of OL Groupe, whose majority shareholder since December 2022 is Eagle Football Group, which is controlled by American businessman John Textor. Club president Jean-Michel Aulas was also OL Groupe's previous and founding owner, and remains a minority owner of OL Groupe and board director of Eagle Football Group.^[1][8][9]

As of April 2023^[update], L'Équipe reported that Lyon Féminin operated at a €12 million annual deficit.^[1]

On 16 May 2023, OL Groupe and Y. Michele Kang announced the formation of a separate entity that would be composed of Kang's Washington Spirit of the NWSL, and Olympique Lyon Féminin. OL Groupe would sell its NWSL club, OL Reign, to resolve conflicts of interest. OL Groupe would retain a 48% stake in the resulting new entity, and Kang would become the club's majority owner and CEO, pending regulatory approval.^{[10][11][12][13]} Kang's proposed deal for the women's side reportedly valued it at $54.4 million.^[14] Kang attended Lyon's victory in the Coupe de France féminine finals on 13 May 2023 and raised the trophy with the team.^[13][15]

Players

For a list of all former and current Olympique Lyonnais Féminin players with a Wikipedia article, see Category: Olympique Lyonnais Féminin players.

Current squad

As of 18 February 2024.^[16]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   CHI Christiane Endler 3 DF   FRA Wendie Renard (captain) 4 DF   FRA Selma Bacha 5 DF   FRA Perle Morroni 6 MF   HAI Melchie Dumornay 7 MF   FRA Amel Majri 8 MF   GER Sara Däbritz 9 FW   FRA Eugénie Le Sommer 10 MF   GER Dzsenifer Marozsán 11 FW   FRA Kadidiatou Diani 12 DF   AUS Ellie Carpenter 13 MF   NED Damaris Egurrola 14 FW   NOR Ada Hegerberg 15 DF   FRA Wassa Sangaré 16 GK   FRA Féerine Belhadj

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 MF   NED Daniëlle van de Donk 18 DF   FRA Alice Sombath 19 DF   FRA Kysha Sylla 20 FW   FRA Delphine Cascarino 21 DF   CAN Vanessa Gilles (on loan from Angel City) 22 MF   SUI Sally Julini 23 DF   FRA Julie Swierot 24 DF   FRA Alice Marques 26 MF   USA Lindsey Horan 27 FW   FRA Vicki Bècho 29 DF   FRA Griedge Mbock Bathy 30 GK   GER Laura Benkarth 31 FW   FRA Liana Joseph 32 MF   FRA Maeline Mendy 34 MF   FRA Laureen Oillic

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW   FRA Inès Benyahia (at Le Havre until 30 June 2024) — FW   FRA Melvine Malard (at Manchester United until 30 June 2024)

Notable former players

French Camille Abily Élodie Thomis Corine Petit Sonia Bompastor Louisa Necib Laura Georges Élise Bussaglia Hoda Lattaf Sabrina Viguier Sandrine Brétigny Sandrine Dusang Delphine Blanc Laëtitia Tonazzi Jessica Houara Claire Lavogez Pauline Peyraud-Magnin Kenza Dali Kheira Hamraoui Ève Périsset Claire Morel Séverine Creuzet-Laplantes Sarah Bouhaddi Amandine Henry

Brazilian Kátia Rosana Simone Canadian Kadeisha Buchanan Chinese Wang Fei Costa Rican Shirley Cruz Danish Dorte Dalum Jensen Line Røddik Hansen Dutch Shanice van de Sanden English Lucy Bronze Izzy Christiansen Alex Greenwood Nikita Parris

German Josephine Henning Pauline Bremer Carolin Simon Icelandic Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir Japanese Saki Kumagai Shinobu Ohno Ami Otaki New-Zealander Erin Nayler Nigerian Cynthia Uwak Norwegian Christine Colombo Nilsen Isabell Herlovsen Bente Nordby Ingvild Stensland Andrea Norheim

Portuguese Jéssica Silva Swedish Amelie Rybäck Lotta Schelin Caroline Seger Swiss Lara Dickenmann American Lorrie Fair Megan Rapinoe Hope Solo Aly Wagner Christie Welsh Alex Morgan Morgan Brian Welsh Jess Fishlock

Current staff

As of 23 August 2023.^[17]

Position	Staff
Head coach	Sonia Bompastor
Assistant coaches	Camille Abily   Théo Rivrin
Goalkeeping coach	Simon Pouplin
Assistant goalkeeping coach	Méline Gérard
Head of performance	Antonin Da Fonseca
Physical trainer	Rémi Pullara
Video analyst	Marceau Goguer
Medical director	Franck Pelissier
Team doctor	Claire De Labachelerie
Physiotherapists	Shingo Kitada   Anthony Martin   Ganaelle Rigondaud
Nutritionist	Isabelle Mischler
General manager/team delegate	Olivier Blanc
Team manager	Julien Legrand
Kit manager	Jacques Raffin   Amilcar Perez
OMS cell manager	Nadi Ferran
Team coordinator	Manon Eleure

Honours

 

Celebration of the sixth UEFA Women's Champions League in 2019.

Official

• Division 1 Féminine (Champions of France) (level 1)

(16, record): 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23

• Coupe de France Féminine

(10, record): 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2022–23

• Trophée des Championnes

(3, record) 2019, 2022, 2023

• UEFA Women's Champions League

(8, record): 2010–11, 2011–12, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22

Invitational

• International Women's Club Championship

Winners: 2012

• Valais Cup

Winners: 2014

• Women's International Champions Cup

Winners: 2019, 2022

• Trophée Veolia Féminin

Winners: 2020

Others

• Guinness world record for most consecutive victories in all competitions: 41 wins (from 28 April 2012 to 18 May 2013).^[18]

Record in UEFA Women's Champions League

As of match played 21 December 2022

All results (away, home and aggregate) list Lyon's goal tally first.

Competition	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
UEFA Champions League	129	101	17	10	466	64	+402
Total	129	101	17	10	466	64	+402

Season	Round	Opponents	Away	Home	Agg.
2007–08	First qualifying round	Slovan Duslo Šaľa	12–0	–	–
		Škiponjat Struga (Host)	10–0	–	–
		Sarajevo	7–0	–	–
	Second qualifying round	Brøndby	–	0–0	–
		Kolbotn	–	1–0	–
		Sparta Prague	–	2–1	–
	Quarter-final	Arsenal	3–2	0–0 ^f	3–2
	Semi-final	Umeå	0–0	1–1 ^f	1–1 (a)
2008–09	Second qualifying round	Neulengbach	–	8–0	–
		Zürich	–	7–1	–
		Arsenal	–	3–0	–
	Quarter-final	Verona	5–0 ^f	4–1	9–1
	Semi-final	Duisburg	1–3	1–1 ^f	2–4
2009–10	Round of 32	Mašinac Niš	1–0 ^f	5–0	6–0
	Round of 16	Fortuna Hjørring	1–0 ^f	5–0	6–0
	Quarter-final	Torres Sassari	0–1	3–0 ^f	3–1
	Semi-final	Umeå	0–0	3–2 ^f	3–2
	Final	Turbine Potsdam	0–0 (a.e.t.) (6–7 p) (  Getafe)
2010–11	Round of 32	AZ	2–1 ^f	8–0	10–1
	Round of 16	Rossiyanka Khimki	6–1 ^f	5–0	11–1
	Quarter-final	Zvezda Perm	0–0 ^f	1–0	1–0
	Semi-final	Arsenal	3–2	2–0 ^f	5–2
	Final	Turbine Potsdam	2–0 (  London)
2011–12	Round of 32	Olimpia Cluj-Napoca	9–0 ^f	3–0	12–0
	Round of 16	Sparta Prague	6–0 ^f	6–0	12–0
	Quarter-final	Brøndby	4–0	4–0 ^f	8–0
	Semi-final	Turbine Potsdam	0–0	5–1 ^f	5–1
	Final	Frankfurt	2–0 (  Munich)
2012–13	Round of 32	Vantaa	7–0 ^f	5–0	12–0
	Round of 16	Zorky Krasnogorsk	9–0 ^f	2–0	11–0
	Quarter-final	Rosengård Malmö	3–0	5–0 ^f	8–0
	Semi-final	Juvisy	6–1	3–0 ^f	9–1
	Final	Wolfsburg	0–1 (  London)
2013–14	Round of 32	Twente Enschede	4–0 ^f	6–0	10–0
	Round of 16	Turbine Potsdam	1–0 ^f	1–2	2–2 (a)
2014–15	Round of 32	Brescia	5–0 ^f	9–0	14–0
	Round of 16	Paris Saint-Germain	1–1 ^f	0–1	1–2
2015–16	Round of 32	Medyk Konin	6–0 ^f	3–0	9–0
	Round of 16	Atlético Madrid	3–1 ^f	6–0	9–1
	Quarter-final	Slavia Prague	0–0	9–1 ^f	9–1
	Semi-final	Paris Saint-Germain	1–0	7–0 ^f	8–0
	Final	Wolfsburg	1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) (  Reggio Emilia)
2016–17	Round of 32	Avaldsnes	5–2 ^f	5–0	10–2
	Round of 16	Zürich	9–0	8–0 ^f	17–0
	Quarter-final	Wolfsburg	2–0 ^f	0–1	2–1
	Semi-final	Manchester City	3–1 ^f	0–1	3–2
	Final	Paris Saint-Germain	0–0 (a.e.t.) (7–6 p) (  Cardiff)
2017–18	Round of 32	Medyk Konin	5–0 ^f	9–0	14–0
	Round of 16	Kazygurt Shymkent	7–0 ^f	9–0	16–0
	Quarter-final	Barcelona	1–0	2–1 ^f	3–1
	Semi-final	Manchester City	0–0 ^f	1–0	1–0
	Final	Wolfsburg	4–1 (a.e.t.) (  Kyiv)
2018–19	Round of 32	Avaldsnes	2–0 ^f	5–0	7–0
	Round of 16	Ajax Amsterdam	4–0 ^f	9–0	13–0
	Quarter-final	Wolfsburg	4–2	2–1 ^f	6–3
	Semi-final	Chelsea	1–1	2–1 ^f	3–2
	Final	Barcelona	4–1 (  Budapest)
2019–20	Round of 32	Ryazan-VDV	9–0 ^f	7–0	16–0
	Round of 16	Fortuna Hjørring	4–0 ^f	7–0	11–0
	Quarter-final	Bayern Munich	2–1 (  Bilbao)
	Semi-final	Paris Saint-Germain	1–0 (  Bilbao)
	Final	Wolfsburg	3–1 (  San Sebastián)
2020–21	Round of 32	Juventus	3–2 ^f	3–0	6–2
	Round of 16	Brøndby	3–1	2–0 ^f	5–1
	Quarter-final	Paris Saint-Germain	1–0 ^f	1–2	2–2 (a)
2021–22	Round 2	Levante	2–1 ^f	2–1	4–2
	Group D	Bayern Munich	0–1	2–1	1st
		Benfica	5–0	5–0
		BK Häcken	3–0	4–0
	Quarter-final	Juventus	1–2 ^f	3–1	4–3
	Semi-final	Paris Saint-Germain	2–1	3–2 ^f	5–3
	Final	Barcelona	3–1 (  Turin)

^f First leg.

List of seasons

Main article: List of Olympique Lyonnais Féminin seasons

Top scorers in bold were also the top scorers in the Division 1 Féminine that season.

Champions

Runners-up

Promoted

Relegated

Season	League	Cup	Europe		Top goalscorer(s)
Division	Pos	Pld			W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Name(s)	Goals
2001–02	D1	3rd	22	14	2	6	53	26	+27	66	RU			Séverine Creuzet-Laplantes	17
2002–03	D1	2nd	22	15	4	3	60	19	+41	71	W			Sandrine Brétigny	26
2003–04	D1	2nd	22	14	4	4	52	25	+27	68	W			Claire Morel	18
2004–05	D1	3rd	22	15	2	5	50	20	+30	69	RU			Séverine Creuzet-Laplantes	13
2005–06	D1	3rd	22	10	8	4	34	12	+22	60	RU			Sandrine Brétigny	11
2006–07	D1	1st	22	20	1	1	116	9	+107	83	RU			Sandrine Brétigny	42
2007–08	D1	1st	22	18	4	0	93	4	+89	80	W	Women's Cup	SF	Sandrine Brétigny	25
2008–09	D1	1st	22	21	1	0	114	11	+103	86	SF	Women's Cup	SF	Kátia	27
2009–10	D1	1st	22	18	2	2	93	11	+82	78	SF	Champions League	RU	Kátia	17
2010–11	D1	1st	22	22	0	0	106	6	+100	88	QF	Champions League	W	Sandrine Brétigny	19
2011–12	D1	1st	22	19	3	0	119	3	+116	82	W	Champions League	W	Eugénie Le Sommer	22
2012–13	D1	1st	22	22	0	0	132	5	+127	88	W	Champions League	RU	Lotta Schelin	24
2013–14	D1	1st	22	21	0	1	95	12	+83	85	W	Champions League	R16	Eugénie Le Sommer   Laëtitia Tonazzi	15
2014–15	D1	1st	22	22	0	0	147	6	+141	88	W	Champions League	R16	Lotta Schelin	34
2015–16	D1	1st	22	19	3	0	115	4	+111	82	W	Champions League	W	Ada Hegerberg	33
2016–17	D1	1st	22	21	0	1	103	6	+97	63	W	Champions League	W	Ada Hegerberg   Eugénie Le Sommer	20
2017–18	D1	1st	22	21	1	0	104	5	+99	64	RU	Champions League	W	Ada Hegerberg	31
2018–19	D1	1st	22	20	2	0	89	9	+83	62	W	Champions League	W	Ada Hegerberg	20
2019–20	D1	1st	16	14	2	0	67	4	+63	44	W	Champions League	W	Ada Hegerberg	14
2020–21	D1	2nd	22	20	1	1	78	6	+72	61	DNF	Champions League	QF	Nikita Parris	13
2021–22	D1	1st	22	21	1	0	79	8	+71	64	R16	Champions League	W	Catarina Macario	14
2022–23	D1	1st	22	20	1	1	69	9	+60	61	W	Champions League	QF	Signe Bruun	8

See also

•  Association football portal
•  Women's association football portal

• Division 1 Féminine
• Olympique Lyonnais, the main men's team in Lyon, owned by Olympique Lyonnais Féminin's owner OL Groupe
• OL Reign, a women's team in Seattle, also owned by OL Groupe

References

1. Guillemet, Hugo (12 April 2023). "L'OL féminin bientôt vendu à Michele Kang, une femme d'affaires américaine". L'Equipe. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
2. Smith, Rory (17 May 2019). "The World's Most Dominant Team Isn't Who You Think". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
3. Ingle, Sean (29 June 2019). "How Lucy Bronze was polished at Lyon, the ultimate finishing school | Sean Ingle". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
4. "Lyon and Potsdam make history". UEFA. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
5. "Potsdam hold nerve to claim European crown". UEFA. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 16 June 2010.
6. "2016–17 Women's Champions League Final Report". UEFA. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
7. "UEFA WOMEN'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014/15" (PDF). UEFA. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
8. "Olympique Lyonnais Price Tag For John Textor: $846 Million". Forbes. 21 June 2022.
9. "L'OL officiellement vendu à l'Américain John Textor". L'Équipe (in French). 20 December 2022.
10. "OL Groupe and Michele Kang Form Global Multi-Team Women's Football Group" (Press release). Washington Spirit. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
11. Caron, Emily (16 May 2023). "Spirit's Michele Kang adds Lyonnais Feminin to Women's Soccer Venture". Sportico. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
12. Hess, AJ (16 May 2023). "Spirit owner Michele Kang buys Lyon to build first international women's soccer empire". Fast Company. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
13. Guillement, Hugo (16 May 2023). "Michele Kang, nouvelle actionnaire majoritaire de l'OL féminin : " Il n'est pas question de changer l'OL "" [Michele Kang, new majority shareholder of OL Women: "There is no question of changing OL"]. L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 16 May 2023.
14. "Washington Spirit owner Kang to take over Lyon". Sports Business Journal. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
15. "Spirit owner Michele Kang attends Lyon women's match, hoists trophy with team amid takeover reports". The Athletic. 13 May 2023.
16. "EFFECTIF & STAFF". Olympique Lyonnais. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
17. "COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE | NOUVELLE ORGANISATION AU SEIN DU STAFF DE L'ÉQUIPE FÉMININE DE L'OL". Olympique Lyonnais. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
18. "Most consecutive association football victories (all competitions)". Guinness World Records.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Olympique Lyonnais Féminin.

• Official website
• Club at uefa.com